Tape-holder.



Patented May 20,- I902.

8. MOUNTFORD.

TAPE HOLDER. (Application filed on. 15, 1901.

(No Model.)

' INVENTOR L not/(7i TORN Ys;

WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT SIDNEY MOUNTFORD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

TAPE-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 700,698, dated May 20,1902. Application filed October 15, 1901. Serial No. 78,702- on; model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIDNEY MOUNTFORD, of Newark, in the county of Essex,in the State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements inTape-Holders, of which the following, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in tape-holders, having moreparticularly reference to that class in which the tape is automaticallyrewound upon the drum by a springmotor.

The object of this invention is to produce such a device andmeans formanually releasing the spring so as to cause the tape to be wound uponthe drum.

A further object of this invention is to provide means to allow the tapeto remain unwound until such time as it may be desired to wind it.

A still further object is to so arrange and construct the componentparts of the frame of the holder that they may be manufactured at aminimum cost and be easily and readily assembled by cheap labor.

To this end the invention consists in the several new and novel featuresof construction and operation, which are hereinafter described, and morespecifically set forth in the claims hereunto annexed.

It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tapeholderembodying this invention. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig.1. Fig.3 is a View si'milar'to that shown in Fig. 2,-except that the side Wallsof the holder are compressed for the purpose of releasing the spring towind the tape upon the drum. Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.Fig. 5 is a sheetmetal disk carrying the pinion and out of which diskthe pinion is stamped. Fig. 6 is a view of the tape-drum stamped up fromsheet metal. Fig. 7 is'a View of the frictionpost which rests within thepinion.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all theviews.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1

represents the side pieces of the tape-holder.

2 is the edge, the sides being provided with flanges to fit"over ontothe edge-piece 2, as shown in Figs; 1, 2, and 3, where they arepreferably secured in any ordinary and wellknown manner.

The parts just above described are preferably constructed of celluloid,and the edge 2 is provided with a slotway 3, through which the tape 4:extends in the ordinary way.

In one side of the holder I place a metallic disk 5, having two pieces 6stamped out of the bottom to form the bearing 7; In view of the factthat these two pieces 6 are stamped from the bottom and extend at rightangles therefrom a slotway 8 is formed between them and midway betweenthe twoparts 6, at the base of which I place an opening 9, for thepurpose hereinafter specified.

10 is a drum or cylinder stamped up from a piece of sheet metal andrevolubly mounted on the bearing 7, said drurnhaving a central aperture11 to receive the'bearing 7 and provided with slotways in itsperipheryfor the purpose of forming lips 12 and 13, 14 is a friction-postconstructed in the form of a cross, as shown in Fig. 7, and is adaptedto rest in the slotway 8, and 15 is a coilspring mounted on the saidpost.

16 is a strap-spring having one end adapted to engage with the lip 13upon the drum 10 and the other end to engage and be made fast to thepost 7.

The tape 4: is adapted to have its inner end secured upon the lip 12upon the drum and wound thereon and pass out through the opening 3, asshown in Figs. 1 and 4.

To assemble the parts, I first place the disk 5 within one of the sides.I then place the drum 10 over the same, letting the bearing 7 passthrough the aperture 11. The friction-post 14 is then dropped onto thebearing 7, so that the lower end 18 will pass intothe opening 9, and thelateral arms 19 engage with the slotway 8, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.The spring 15 isithen placed upon the upper end of the post 17, and theopposite side 1 of the tape-holder, with preferably a metallicbearing-plate 20, is placed over the same, so that when complete theparts take the position shown in Fig. 2. The disk 5 is 'held within thecase from rotation, and the drum 10 is free to rotate upon the bearing7, so that when the tape is withdrawn or unwound from the drum thestrap-spring within the drum is wound up, so that it will causesufficient tension to rewind the tape when released. The lower edge ofthe arms 19 upon the post engage frictionally with the interior face ofthe drum 10, and the coil-spring 15 engages with the opposite edge ofthe arms 19 upon one end and the other end bears against the disk 20within the tape-holder case, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so thata-tension is normally produced to hold the lower edges of the arms 19against the inner face of the drum 10, thereby producing friction enoughto normally prevent the rotation of the drum, so that when the tape isdrawn out the drum will be held in any position by such friction, asuitable plate 5, of fiber or equivalent material, being interposedbetween the disk 5 and drum 10 to normally insure sufficient frictionbetween said parts to hold the drum from rotation. When it is desired toremove this friction, and thereby release the drum, so that it mayoperate by power of the spring, the sides of the tape-holder arecompressed centrally and take the position shown in Fig. 3, one of thesides coming in contact with the lower end 18 of the post ll and forcingthe lateral arms 19 out of engagement with the bottom face of the drum10, thereby allowing it to rotate and rewind the tape upon the drum.

In the foregoing drawings I have shown means for securing the ends ofthe strapspring to the drum and to the pinion 7 and also means forsecuring the end of the tape upon the periphery of the drum; but I donot wish to be limited to this precise form of I construction or theprecise form of construction of any other parts shown in the drawings,as it will be evident that they may be varied and modified at willwithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters'Patent, 1s-

1. A tape-holder comprising a case having a tape-opening,a rotaryspring-actuated tapeliolding drum in the case, a friction-surface ryinga tape movable through said opening, and a yielding portion forming partof the case arranged to be compressed against the brake member to movethe same against the action of its spring to release the drum.

3. A tape-holder comprising a case, opposite disks within the case, ahollow bearing projecting from one of the disks, a spring-rotated drummounted on the-bearing and carrying a tape, a friction-surface betweenthe drum and one of the disks, a brake member and its actuated springbetween the drum and other disk to normally hold said drum in engagementwith said surface, and means on the case to engage and move the brakeendwise against the action of its spring to release the drum.

4:. A tape-holder comprising a case having a tape-opening,a bearingwithin the case having longitudinal slotways, a spring-actuated drumrotatingly mounted on said bearing and carrying a tape to be woundthereon, a post having lateral arms mounted in said bearing, said armsadapted to rest normally in frictional contact with one face of the drumand means for forcing said arms out offrictional contact with the drumfor the purposes specified.

5. A tape-holder comprising a case having a tape-opening,a hearingwithin said case having longitudinal slotways, a spring-actuated drumrotatingly mounted on said bearing and carrying a tape adapted to bewound thereon, a post having'lateral arms mounted in said bearing, saidarms engaging with the slotways and resting normally in frictionalcontact with one of the faces of the drum, a spring mounted on saidpost, one end engaging with said arms and the other end with the wall ofthe case for the purpose of holding said arms in frictional contact withthe drum for the purposes specified.

6. A tape-holder comprisinga case having a tape-opening, a tubularbearing within said case having longitudinal slotways, a springactuateddrum rotatingly mounted on said bearing and carrying a tape adapted tobe wound thereon, a post having an axially-extending arm adapted to beengaged by the adjacent wall of the case and lateral arms mounted insaid bearing, said arms engaging with said slotway and resting normallyin frictional contact with one of the faces of the drum, a springmounted on said post within the bearing, one end engaging with the saidarms and the other end against the wall of the case for the purposesspecified.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 8th day ofOctober, 1901.

SIDNEY MOUNTFORD.

Witnesses:

MELVILLE A. CARPENTER, EDWARD D. CoNKLrN.

